Device for use in connection with fishing

ABSTRACT

A device for use in connection with fishing, comprising a container (1) adapted for dispensing of odor agents underwater, said container containing a piston device having portions (6, 7) with two different diameters, whereby one end of the portion (7) having the largest diameter is situated in a drive chamber (B) having at least one aperture (4) for inlet of water axially outside of said portion (7), while one end of the portion (6) having the smallest diameter is situated in a chamber (A) containing the odor agent, whereby the portion (7) having the largest diameter is able to force the portion (6) having the smallest diameter along the inner of the container (1), in order to force the odor agent out through at least one aperture (5) in the chamber (A) containing the odor agent, axially outside of the portion (6) having the smallest diameter, whereby means is provided for controlled dispensing of the odor agent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for use in connection withfishing, comprising a container adapted for dispensing of odor agentsunder water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many kinds of fish are completely dependent on the sense of smell inorder to find food. This in particular applies to demersal fish specieswhich often live in environments (great depths, darkness) where odoragents dispensed from prey animals are the only signals which enable thefish to discover and localize its food. Advantage is derived from thiscircumstance when fishing with tackles based on bait, as for instancelongline and fish pot.

Chemical analyses have shown that the concentration of odor agentsdispensed from natural bait diminishes very rapidly. Measurements havebeen made which show that the sinking time of tackles based on bait isrelatively long. A longline uses for instance about one hour in sinkingdown to a depth of 450 meters. This means that the bait has dispensedthe essential of its odor agents before it reaches the relevant depthfor catching fish, and this circumstance cannot be affected.

Different devices for dispensing odor agents under water in connectionwith fishing are known. U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,058 shows an elongatecontainer having several apertures, whereby a water soluble bladdercontaining an odor agent is situated inside the container, so that theodor agent will trickle out while the bladder is dissolved. U.S. Pat.No. 2,922,246 also shows a container containing a bladder with odoragent. The container has an aperture at one end and a nozzle at theother end, and by being pulled in the direction of the end having theaperture the bladder will be subjected to a certain external pressurewhich squeezes the odor agent through the nozzle. The U.S. Pat. Nos.4,267,658 and 4,888,907 show hollow fishing implements which areequipped with hooks and which contain agents that are attractive tofish, whereby the agents are dispensed through apertures in theimplements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,658 shows the use of the force in a linein order to cause a certain internal pressure head in a bellowscontaining the agents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based upon the recognition that the efficiencyof fishing implements based on bait and implements traditionally notbased on bait can be significantly increased if the dispensing of odoragents can be controlled in a favourable manner, both with respect tothe point of time when the dispensing of odor starts and the duration ofthe dispensing, and that it may be favourable to vary the dispensing byadapting it to activity peaks which the fish may have during 24 hours. Ause of the device with respect to fishing not based on bait may be innet fishing.

The device according to the invention is characterized by the featuresappearing from the accompanying claims.

During use under water the device according to the invention will dose acontrolled quantity of liquid concentrate of odor agent, for instancefinely divided octopus or mackerel, in doses or with a controlled,possibly a constant dispensing of the odor agent.

The device according to the invention can be fastened to the catchingtrickle or lowered separately, and it may be equipped with electronictiming and/or quantity control means and a mechanical automaticallyworking dosing mechanism which dispenses odor agents luring the fish tothe catching trickle. By not actuating the device until a large pressurehead is present due to the depth, dispensing of odor agents on depthsthat are riot of interest for catching fish is prevented The use of theodor agents, thus, can be performed selectively and rationally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example of a device in accordance with the invention will in thefollowing be explained more detailed, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the device, in a conditionbefore it is influenced by an external pressure which actuates thedevice.

FIG. 2 is a cross section along the line A--A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the device in an actuated condition, during dispensing ofodor agents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device in accordance with the invention comprises a cylindricalcontainer 1 divided into two chambers, A and B, having approximately thesame volume. The diameter of the chamber B is larger than that of thechamber A. The bottom and top of the container 1 (as shown extendingvertically) are closed by screw caps 2, 3 which constitute end portionsof the chambers A and B. The cap 3 has a small throughgoing aperture 4in the axially outermost end. The cap 2 has a larger (with respect todiameter) throughgoing aperture 5 in the axially outermost end. A dosingpiston 6 having a piston rod 9 is situated in the chamber A andprotrudes through the aperture 5 in the cap 2. In order to resist largewater pressures the container may externally be reinforced by ribs 8(FIG. 2). The chamber A is pressure balanced in that water flows intothe chamber. In the chamber B is provided a piston 7 having a seal 14and a piston rod 12 in abutment against the dosing piston 6.

In place of two pistons 6 and 7 a unitary (integrated) piston may beused, where the pistons 6 and 7 constitute piston portions.

The piston rod 9 of the dosing piston 6 is shaped with a longitudinalgroove 10 and circumferential recesses or "pockets" 11 fortransportation of the odor concentrate. By moving the piston 7 and thedosing piston 6 to the bottom of the respective chambers A and B (at thebottom of FIGS. 1 and 3), whereby a cavity is formed on the upper sideof the pistons, the cavity above the piston 6 in the chamber A can befilled with odor concentrate.

The device may for instance be lowered together with the catchingimplements, alternatively separately by having weigths mounted thereon,to the desired depth. Along the path down to the desired depth thestatical water pressure increases, and water flows into the chamber Bthrough the aperture 4 and presses the piston 7 in the direction of thechamber A. The water pressure creates a counterforce against the upperside of the dosing piston 6, but because the end surface of the piston 7is larger than the end surface of the dosing piston 6, the force againstthe piston 7 will be larger than against the dosing piston 6, and bothof the pistons 6 and 7 will be forced in the direction of the aperture5, until the piston 7 reaches the transition between the chambers A andB (FIG. 3), where the container 1 has a step. The water seeps into thechamber A, forced by the statical water pressure, along the groove 10 inthe dosing piston 6, whereby the pressure inside the chamber A becomesthe same as on the exterior. The small aperture 4 in the cap 3 may bemade with different diameters in order to adjust the rate of seeping inthe water. With small aperture diameters the seeping in of water intothe chamber B is choked, whereby the velocity of the pistons is reducedto the desired velocity. During the movement of the pistons the rod 9 ismoved progressively longer out of the aperture 5 and dispenses in thefree water on the exterior a certain amount of odor agent through thegroove 10 in the rod 9. When a recess or "pocket" in the rod 9 reachesand passes the aperture 5 a relatively large amount of odor agent isdispensed in the free water, until a new zone of the rod 9 without anyrecess or "pocket" passes the aperture, whereby odor agent can only passthrough the groove 10. The process of movement continues until thedosing piston 6 and the piston 7 reach the end positions (at the top ofthe FIGS. 1 and 3) and the chamber A is approximately emptied of itscontents of odor agent (FIG. 3).

The rod 9 through the aperture 5 may be replaced by a valve, forinstance an automatic check valve or an electronically controlled valve.Also the aperture 4 may be equipped with a valve, for instance a valvewhich opens at a predetermined external pressure (i.e. a predeterminedwater depth) or an electronically controlled valve. The controlling ofthe operation of the device may also take place by means of anelectronically controlled unit for timing and regulation of the amount.This unit may be operative at one of the apertures 4 or 5, or at both.Thereby may be achieved that the device follows a predetermined programfor dispensing of odor agent. Controlling of the apertures 4 and 5 issufficient, because the pistons 6 and 7 are driven by the statical waterpressure, in response to opening and closing of the apertures 4 and 5,or choking of the aperture 4, respectively.

The device according to the invention may be made in several sizes,adapted to leisure fishing as well as to professional fishing, and itmay of course be adapted to or dimensioned for any water pressures orwater depths. In particular for professional fishing several devices canbe used simultaneously.

The components incorporated in the device can be made of severaldifferent materials, but materials which are resistant against water areof course preferred. For use in salt water the components should ofcourse also withstand both water and salt. Different plastics types,possibly fiber reinforced, and composite materials, are well suited forthe container and the piston device, but different metals may also beused.

The container may of course be equipped with attachment members, inorder to be attached to for instance a line or a wire, or in order to beattached to fishing implements for being lowered therewith. Moreover,the container may be shaped for mounting of electronic equipment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for use in connection with fishingadapted for dispensing of an odor agent underwater, comprising:a drivechamber with at least one first aperture for inlet of water; a chamberfor containing the odor agent, having at least one second aperture forexpelling of the odor agent; a piston device having a first portion anda second portion, said first portion having a diameter larger than saidsecond portion, one end of said first portion being disposed in thedrive chamber, one end of the second portion being disposed in thechamber containing the odor agent, whereby the first portion forces thesecond portion along the interior of the container to force the odoragent through the at least one second aperture, said first and secondportions separating said chamber containing the odor agent from saiddrive chamber; and, means for controllably dispensing of the odor agent.2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the means for controllablydispensing is a rod integral with the second portion, said rodprotruding out through the second aperture and having a varyingcross-sectional shape, said rod having recesses for carrying along odoragent through the second aperture.
 3. A container according to claim 1,wherein the first aperture includes means for pressure-dependentopening.
 4. A container according to claim 2, wherein at least one ofthe first and second apertures includes means for electronicallycontrolling the progress of dispensing odor agent.
 5. A containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the first aperture includes means forpressure-dependent opening.
 6. A container according to claim 5, whereinat least one of the first and second apertures includes means forelectronically controlling the progress of dispensing odor agent.
 7. Acontainer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first andsecond apertures includes means for electronically controlling theprogress of dispensing odor agent.
 8. A container according to claim 1,wherein at least one of the first and second apertures includes meansfor electronically controlling the progress of dispensing odor agent. 9.An underwater device for dispensing of an odor agent into watersurrounding said underwater device, comprising:a container defining:anodor chamber, a water chamber separate from said odor chamber, a firstaperture fluidly connecting said water chamber with the water, and asecond aperture from said odor chamber to the water; and, a pistonmovably disposed within said container, said piston including a portionand a rod, said portion separating said odor chamber from said waterchamber, said rod extending into said second aperture and preventingfluid connection of said odor chamber with the water, said rod definingat least one pocket for receiving the odor agent, said at least onepocket recessed within said rod, whereby pressure exerted by the waterin said water chamber against said portion displaces said rod throughsaid second aperture.